Paytronix CEO Andrew Robbins joins QSR Editorial Director Danny Klein to discuss the changing face of loyalty and engagement as the restaurant industry continues to emerge from the pandemic. How should brands think differently about how they keep guests happy and engaged? Let’s ask the company that pioneered restaurant loyalty more than 20 years ago.

Amir Mostafavi was a D.C. pioneer when it came to cold-pressed juice, smoothies, and acai bowls. But now, regional cult-favorite fast casual South Block has its sights set on big-time growth. The brand’s 15th location will open in summer 2023 at the East Coast Amazon HQ2 in Arlington. The unit will mark South Block’s fourth opening within a 12-month period. Yet this mission-driven journey is just getting started.

The category icon isn't letting off the throttle, from a growth or innovation angle, as the froyo segment evolves into its next act. From development best practices to rules to run a company by, brand president Sam Yoon joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to discuss entrepreneurship, the chain's future, and what it takes to thrive amid constantly changing restaurant conditions.

Sprinkles, creators of the famed Cupcake ATM, just opened its first U.S. franchise. Is this the start of a major growth push? CEO Dan Mesches joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to discuss what promises to be a category-shaking stretch for the brand, and why its menu innovation and approach to marketing continue to drive results.

Sam Caucci, founder and CEO of 1Huddle, joins QSR editor Danny Klein to address what’s really causing the labor shortage for restaurants, and where the path to a better solution begins. Is mobile gamification the answer? Does the retention problem go deeper? We get into that and much more. Happy holidays from the QSR Uncut team!

Bankrupt to bankrolling: One of America’s oldest fast-food chains is back on the offensive with a new marketing direction, double-digit sales growth, and plans to hit 500 locations by 2027. And it all starts with the message. CMO Casey Terrell and Jon Greenlee, SVP of sales and marketing at Sparkfly, join QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley for a wide-ranging and freewheeling talk about how Krystal is leveraging new technology to innovate and improve its customer experience, from 2 Chainz to beyond.

Noah Hayes, general manager, U.S. and Canada at Deliverect, a global scale-up company that simplifies digital orders for more than 27,000 locations across 40 markets, joins QSR editor Danny Klein to break down some proprietary—and perhaps surprising—research on the state of the delivery consumer amid record-high inflation. As it turns out, there’s one piece of good news every operator needs to circle and prepare for as the industry continues its recovery out of the COVID-19 pandemic. LINK TO FULL REPORT: https://welcome.deliverect.com/us-food-for-thought. This episode is sponsored by Deliverect.

How do you take a legendary brand and bring it into the future? QSR editor Danny Klein catches up with Wienerschnitzel COO Rusty Bills, a 15-year Galardi Group vet who has helped the nearly 350-unit brand emerge from COVID-19 with more optimism than ever. And that’s coming from a concept that serves more than 120 million hot dogs annually.

Nick Patrick, the CEO of Radar, a company that’s helped brands like Panera Bread leverage technology to meet customers’ needs, joins QSR editor Danny Klein to talk about one of the hottest topics of the space. How can location deliver experiences that keep guests coming back? How does it provide benefits on the operational side? Nick and Danny get into that and a whole lot more. 

Entrepreneur Thomas Nieto stumbled upon Main Squeeze after a friend introduced him to the founders and they offered him a juice. The rest is history. From partnering with NFL players to a major capital investment, the Louisiana-based concept is primed for take-off in 2023 and beyond.